Barnesy's Fourth Blog - AXA Wealth Climb

The second day on the mountain proved to be a long and challenging day. The total trekking time has been between 8-9 hours with a vertical gain of 1000m.We have taken the decision to swap all the groups round so that every member of the AXA Wealth Climb (AWC) gets to mix with the other climbers. Teamwork and friendship are an extremely important contributory factor for the success of the AWC.

The effects of altitude have started to take its effect on members of the group. Anyone who tells you Kilimanjaro is an easy walk has either never done it or has no idea of how altitude can affect the body.

For some, it manifests itself as headaches that can progress to nausea and sickness. While it can be managed, it has to be taken seriously and this is where the professionalism and knowledge of the Team Kilimanjaro guides is so important. Their guides are all extremely experienced (all have summited over 150 times) and understand the effects of altitude and how to best deal with it.

Team Kilimanjaro has also supplied guides at a ratio of a minimum of 1 guide per 2 climbers. This allows the groups to break down and individual climbers to go at their own pace and not that of others. This will be vital in preparing to get them to the summit.

Whilst we are all feeling slightly unwell and tired, we are all very aware for the reason why we are climbing the mountain. Many of us are proud to support Help for Heroes and are acutely aware that what we are going through is nothing compared to those soldiers who are injured serving their country.

Help for Heroes raises money to support members of the Armed Forces who have been wounded in the service of their country. Over a million people have responded to date and millions of pounds have been raised to buy much needed services that will aid their recovery. So far, they have allocated almost all of the money they have raised in order to fund direct projects and support other service charities.

The route yesterday took us away from Kilimanjaro peak as we traversed the mountain. This route has been specially designed to give us the best chance of acclimatisation that will allow us to summit. This proved a bit too much for Mark Regan who couldn't understand why we were not going straight at the mountain. This route, combined with the realisation that we are not actually in the Himalayas, has meant Mark has taken to his tent to console himself in his colouring books. We hope to see him soon.

Whilst some of the team has been suffering, we are all amazed at one of the members of the group. A 20 a day smoker was instructed to cut down on the mountain. He has cut his cigarettes down but had brought cigars instead. What makes this harder to take is that he is comfortably progressing better than any of us despite being the joint oldest in the party.

One of the more lighthearted effects of altitude on the body is the extra wind you produce. Some groups have etiquette on how to deal with it (finger pulling included) while others are no holds barred. The guides tell us it's a sign that the body is coping well with the altitude so it looks to continue throughout the trip.

The red team not only accepted our invitation for dinner last night but they are hosting us tonight and we have a spectacular view of Mawenzi peak from the tent. Not only is the food superb but also a large tub of giant strawberry sweets have appeared to raise moral. Good times.

The AXA Wealth Climb is in aid of Help for Heroes, the RPA Benevolent Fund and the RFU Injured Players’ Foundation.

Please donate by visiting www.uk.virginmoneygiving.com/axawealthclimb or by texting the word climb to 70050 to donate £1.50 +usual message rate. 100% of all donations go directly to the charities.